All Blacks 'winging' it over rivals

New Zealand's ability to produce try-scoring Test wings has left the rest of the rugby world in a permanent state of alarm.

That's the opinion of respected English rugby writer Peter Jackson who said of all the assembly lines in the world none compared with New Zealand's mass production of Test wings.

QUICK TAP: SAM CANE INKS LONG-TERM DEAL WITH NZ RUGBYIn his Rugby Paper column, Jackson said: "Only an All Black like Julian Savea can reel off a strike rate second to none and find himself replaced in his prime by a succession of younger challengers, from Nehe Milner-Skudder to Waisake Naholo.

"When it comes to try-scoring wings, New Zealand's squadron of flyers do it better than anyone else's. While they have averaged almost two tries per match over the last two years, only one of their challengers on this side of the Equator [England] has come close to averaging half that number."

Jackson said by the time the All Blacks completed their northern tour next month he expected the margin would have widened.

"Results over 34 Tests played by the World Cup holders and their ancient European rivals show that New Zealand wings touch down almost three times more often than their Welsh and Irish counterparts and virtually four times more often than France.

"Savea, for example, has scored more tries over that period, 16, than all the French wings put together," he said.

Yet even 46 tries in 54 Tests scored by Savea didn't offer immunity from being replaced by younger rivals.